Packaging machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for securing a wrapper about a group of articles to be packaged incorporates means for moving the article sin groups along a predetermined path, means for withdrawing wrapper blanks from a hopper and for depositing such blanks atop successive groups of articles and for folding each blank about its associated group of articles in such manner that its bottom lap panels are disposed below the group of articles and conveyor means having a plurality of transversely disposed rods is utilized to support transversely reciprocable blank tightening elements together with blank locking means in the form of support blocks each of which in turn supports a pivotally mounted locking element arranged to engage a fixed cam whereby pivotal locking movement is imparted thereto. In order to withdraw each locking element following completion of a locking operation, a retracting cam is arranged to engage a part of the locking element and to effect withdrawal thereof.

United States Patent Gentry 1 Oct. 31, 1972 [54] PACKAGING MACHINE Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill [72] Inventor: Hermond G. Gentry, Atlanta, 'Ga. rney-Walter M. Rodgers [7 3] Assignee: The Mead Corporation [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1971 Appl. No.: 11 1,726

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 41,743, June 6, 1970, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 706,327, Feb. 19, 1968, abandoned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,410,397 11/1968 Cato ..229/40X A machinefor securing a wrapper about a group of articles to be packaged incorporates means for moving the article sin groups along a predetermined path, means for withdrawing wrapper blanks from a hopper and for depositing such blanks atop successive groups of articles and for folding each blank about its associated group of articles in such manner that its bot tom lap panels are disposed below the group of articles and conveyor means having a plurality of transversely disposed rods is utilized to support transversely reciprocable blank tightening elements together with blank locking means in the form of support blocks each of which in turn supports a pivotally mounted locking element arranged to engagea fixed cam,

whereby pivotal locking movement is imparted thereto. In order to withdraw each locking element following completion of a locking operation, a retracting cam is arranged to engage a part of the locking element and to effect withdrawal thereof.

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PACKAGING MACHINE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 41,743, filed June 6, 1970, and now abandoned, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 706,327, filed Feb. 19, 1968, and now abandoned.

Article carriers of the open end wrap around type are well adapted for formation into package groups by high speed packaging machines of the type, for example, as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,751,730 issued June 26, 1956. The locking mechanism constructed according to the present invention constitutes a modification of and an improvement over the locking mechanism disclosed in the aforementioned patent.

According to the present invention, overlapping lap panels of a wrapper type carton blank are drawn toward each other so as to tighten the wrapper and are then secured together while moving continuously along a predetermined path by a machine comprising conveyor means having a working reach movable along a path parallel to and adjacent the predetermined path of movement of the groups of articles to be packaged and their associated wrappers, a support block fixedly mounted on and movable with the conveyor, a locking element movably mounted on the support block, and a fixed locking cam mounted adjacent the working reach of the conveyor and engageable with a part of the locking element for imparting locking movement thereto. According to another feature of the invention, a retracting cam is arranged so as to engage a part of the locking element and is efiective to impart retracting movement thereto following completion of a locking operation. According to another feature of the invention the supporting blocks mounted on the transverse rods forming a part of the conveyor are readily removable and are adjustable so as to accommodate different dimensional aspects of particular applications of the invention.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a high speed packaging machine which incorporates a blank locking mechanism constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank which is withdrawn from a hopper and placed atop a group of articles by the machine depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a completed package utilizing a blank such as is shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view taken along the line designated 4-4 in FIG. 1 and which depicts essential elements of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one locking and tightening assembly taken along a line such at their lower ends on a suitable base structure. A plurality of carrier blanks of the type shown in FIG. 2 and generally designated by the numeral 6 are disposed above the machine in a suitable hopper structure designated by the numeral 7. Primary packages such as the bottles designated by the letter B in FIG. 1 are introduced on a continuous conveyor or otherwise to the left hand end of the machine and proceed toward the right during the formation of a completed package such as is depicted in FIG. 3. During movement through the machine the primary packages B are arranged in a series of groups designated in FIG. 1 at Bl-B9 inclusive.

For the purpose of moving the bottle groups such as Bl-B9 from left to right, an endless conveyor 8 is mounted in known manner on rotatable elements 9, 10, 11 and 12 which are supported by suitable shafts affixed to the frame of the machine in known manner. Secured to the conveyor 8 is a series of flight bars designated by the numeral 13. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the flight bars engage a package group and impart movement thereto toward the right, it being apparent that the conveyor 8 and the rotatable elements on which the conveyor is mounted and which are designated by numerals 9-12 all rotate in a clockwise direction.

In order to withdraw the lowermost one of the blanks from the hopper 7, a suitable reciprocable suction plunger 14 is arranged to engage and draw downwardly such a blank so as to dispose the blank atop the immediately adjacent article group.

Once the lowermost blank 6 is withdrawn from the hopper 7, it must be moved in synchronism with one of the article groups such as B1. To this end, an endless conveyor 15 is suitably mounted in known manner on rotatable elements 16, 17, 18 and 19 and moves in a clockwise direction. The blanks 6 are engaged along their trailing edges by suitable hooks mounted on conveyor 15 and designated by the numeral 20. Thus, as the article groups such as B1, B2, etc. move toward the right, an associated blank such as 6 is moved atop each group by the action of conveyor 15 and its associated books 20 in a manner well known in the art.

Once a particular wrapper 6 is properly oriented with respect to its associated article group such as B3, for example, a suitable hold down mechanism serves to maintain the wrapper securely atop its associated group. Such mechanism is designated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 21 and simply comprises an endless conveyor 22 mounted on rotatable elements 23 and 24 which of course are mounted on shafts journaled in suitable bearings, the shaft for rotatable element 24 being journaled on frame element 3 while the shaft for rotatable element 23 is appropriately journaled on the boom 2 1.

Briefly described, the blank depicted in FIG. 2 comprises a top panel 25 having finger gripping apertures 26 and 27 and a plurality of apertures 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 for receiving the necks of the packaged primary articles. Of course, it may be desirable to utilize a top panel 25 which overlies the crowns of the packaged bottles in which event the apertures 28-33 of course would not be used. Sloping panels 34 and 35 are foldably adjoined respectively to the side edges 36 and 37 of the top panel 25 and conform generally with the shoulders of the packaged bottles. Side wall 38 is foldably joined to sloping panel 34 along a fold line 39 while a similar side wall 40 is foldably joined. to sloping panel 35 along a fold line 41. Another sloping panel 42 is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 38 along fold line 43 and a similar sloping panel 44 is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 40 along fold line 45. Formed in each of the sloping panels are the apertures 46 and 47 formed respectively in the sloping panels 42 and 44. These apertures are for receiving the lower portions of the packaged items to aid in securing the bottles into a unitary group. The bottom of the wrapper is a composite wall structure comprising the lap panel 48 foldably joined to sloping panel 44 along a fold line 49 together with a similar lap panel 50 foldably joined to sloping panel 42 along a fold line 51. The wrapper is tightened in known manner by suitable machine elements which enter the tightening apertures 52 and 53 in panel 50 and by suitable opposed machine elements which enter tightening apertures 54 and 55 formed in lap panel 48. The wrapper is secured about the article group by locking tabs 56-59 formed in lap panel 50 which are driven by machine elements. through the openings defined by retaining tabs 60-63 formed in lap panel 48.

Once a particular article group such as that designated at B4 is appropriately assembled and moved toward the right by a flight bar 13 and with an associated wrapper such as 6 disposed atop the bottle group, the bottle group is then in condition for subsequent package formation operations. Thus, as is designated at B5, suitable folding structure which may take the form of a guide or plow 64 or which might take some other known form, engages a side panel such as 40 and initiates the downward folding thereof. Such folding is substantially complete when the bottle group arrives at the position depicted at B6. Of course, the subsequent folding operations are effected by mechanism which simply effects inward folding of lap panels such as are designated at 48 and 50 and suitable apparatus isemployed to tighten the wrapper and to effect the locking thereof by driving the locking tabs 56-59 through the respective apertures defined by retaining tabs 60-63..

Movement of the package groups from position B6 to position B9 is by way of an endless conveyor designated by the numeral 65 which is mounted on sprockets 66, 67, 68 and 69 which sprockets are rotatably supported on suitable shafts journaled or otherwise mounted on the frame of the machine. Mechanisms such as plungers or flight bars 70 are mounted on the conveyor 65 and engage behind each package group and impart movement thereto from left to right.

Of course any suitable means may be utilized to insure passage of the package groups after they leave the influence of conveyor 8 and before they come under the influence of conveyor 65 and such means may take the form of an endless conveyor belt 71 which is rotatable on rotatable elements '72 and 73 which in turn are suitably supported by shafts journalled in the frame of the machine.

For the purpose of tightening the wrappers 6 about their associated groups of articles, suitable tightening mechanism is mounted on conveyor means generally designated in FIG. 1 at 74 which is rotatably mounted and driven by sprockets S1 and S2 mounted on shafts journaled in the frame of the machine. Preferably conveyor means 74 comprises a pair of chains disposed underneath and on opposite sides of the path of movement of the articles B8, B9.

In addition to tightening elements mounted on conveyor means 74, wrapper locking elements are also mounted on conveyor means 74 as best shown, for example, in FIGS. 4-7 inclusive.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 4 the two chains 74a and For the purpose of engaging the tightening apertures such for example as are designated at 52 and 53 in FIG. 2, tightening elements 87 and 88 are movable longitudinally with conveyor means 74 and are slidably mounted in a transverse direction on the rods 75, 76 and 77, 78. As is well known, the upwardly extending portions of tightening elements 87 and 88 enter the apertures such as 52 and 53 and when transverse movement is imparted to the tightening elements, the lap panel 50 is drawn inwardly toward the associated overlapping lap panel 48. In like fashion, tightening elements 89 and 90 are arranged to enter the tightening apertures 54 and 55 formed in the lap panel 48 and when these elements move transversely inward toward the tightening elements 87 and 88, the panel 48 is drawn toward the side wall 38 of the wrapper and in tight overlapping relation to the bottom lap panel 50. Sidewise movement is imparted to tightening elements 87-90 by suitable cam followers and by suitable fixed cam structure not shown in the drawings and such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,482 issued Oct. 15, 1957.

In order to secure the panels 48 and 50 together, the locking elements such as 56-59 are driven into the openings defined by the retaining tabs 60-63 by mechanism constructed according to this invention. For example, with reference to FIGS. 4-7 a support block 91 is provided on one edge thereof with a notch 92 arranged partially to envelope the rod 76. A recess 93 is formed adjacent the other side of support block 91 and receives the transverse rod 77. Support block 91 is secured to support rod 77 by a disjointable connection comprising clamping plate 94 secured to support block 91 by a pair of set screws 95 and 96. Thus, with clamping plate 94 securely fastened to the support block 91, the support block 91 is securely but disjointably mounted to the support rods 76 and 7 7.

A locking operation is performed by locking element 97 which may, for example, engage locking tab 59 so as to drive it through the aperture defined by retaining tab 63 as is best shown in FIG. 6. Locking element 97 is pivotally mounted on pin 98 secured to the support block 91.

Operating movement is imparted to locking element 97 causing it to swing in a clockwise direction about pin 98 as a center when cam roller 99, rotatably mounted on downwardly extending projection 100 of locking element 97, engages fixed locking cam 101.

In order to retract locking element 97 following completion of a locking operation, retracting cam 102, rigidly mounted to the frame of the machine, engages part 103 of locking element 97. Retracting cam 102 is configured so as to swing locking element 97 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 98 as a center until projection 104 formed on locking element 97 engages the fixed stop 105 mounted on the support block 91.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that a carton locking mechanism constructed according to this invention is simple and rugged in construction and operates with a minimum of moving parts.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown as described, the invention is not limited thereto and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A packaging machine for driving a locking tab formed in one panel of a wrapper type carton into locking relation with a locking aperture formed in another panel of the carton as the carton is moved along a predetermined path, said machine comprising conveyor means having a working reach movable along a path parallel to and adjacent said predetermined path, tightening means movable longitudinally with said conveyor means and arranged to engage and tighten the wrapper while moving along said path, a support block fixedly mounted on and movable with said conveyor means and secured thereon against transverse and longitudinal movement relative to said conveyor means, a locking element movably mounted on said support block, a fixed locking cam mounted adjacent the working reach of said conveyor means and engageable with a part of said locking element for imparting locking movement thereto, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of transverse rods and said support block being disjointably mounted at opposite parts thereof on a pair of said rods, said support block being configured to envelop at least partially a part of each of said rods, and adjustable clamping means mounted on said support block and engageable with one of said rods to form a secure yet disjointable connection therewith.

2. A packaging machine according to claim 1 wherein said tightening means and said support block are directly engageable with different pairs of said rods but with a rod of each pair of rods being common to said tightening means and support block.

3. A packaging machine for driving a locking tab formed in one panel of a wrapper type carton into locking relation with a locking aperture formed in another panel of the carton as the carton is moved along a predetermined path, said machine comprising conveyor means having a working reach movable along a path parallel to and adjacent said predetermined path, tightening means movable longitudinally with said conveyor means and arranged to engage and tighten the wrapper while moving along said path, a

sup rt block fixedly mounted on and movable with sai conveyor means and secured thereon against transverse and longitudinal movement relative to said conveyor means throughout the entire path of travel of said conveyor means, a locking element movably mounted on said support block, and a fixed locking cam mounted adjacent the working reach of said conveyor means and engageable with a part of said locking element for imparting locking movement thereto, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of transverse rods and said support block being disjointably mounted at opposite parts thereof on said rods. 

1. A packaging machine for driving a locking tab formed in one panel of a wrapper type carton into locking relation with a locking aperture formed in another panel of the carton as the carton is moved along a predetermined path, said machine comprising conveyor means having a working reach movable along a Path parallel to and adjacent said predetermined path, tightening means movable longitudinally with said conveyor means and arranged to engage and tighten the wrapper while moving along said path, a support block fixedly mounted on and movable with said conveyor means and secured thereon against transverse and longitudinal movement relative to said conveyor means, a locking element movably mounted on said support block, a fixed locking cam mounted adjacent the working reach of said conveyor means and engageable with a part of said locking element for imparting locking movement thereto, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of transverse rods and said support block being disjointably mounted at opposite parts thereof on a pair of said rods, said support block being configured to envelop at least partially a part of each of said rods, and adjustable clamping means mounted on said support block and engageable with one of said rods to form a secure yet disjointable connection therewith.
 2. A packaging machine according to claim 1 wherein said tightening means and said support block are directly engageable with different pairs of said rods but with a rod of each pair of rods being common to said tightening means and support block.
 3. A packaging machine for driving a locking tab formed in one panel of a wrapper type carton into locking relation with a locking aperture formed in another panel of the carton as the carton is moved along a predetermined path, said machine comprising conveyor means having a working reach movable along a path parallel to and adjacent said predetermined path, tightening means movable longitudinally with said conveyor means and arranged to engage and tighten the wrapper while moving along said path, a support block fixedly mounted on and movable with said conveyor means and secured thereon against transverse and longitudinal movement relative to said conveyor means throughout the entire path of travel of said conveyor means, a locking element movably mounted on said support block, and a fixed locking cam mounted adjacent the working reach of said conveyor means and engageable with a part of said locking element for imparting locking movement thereto, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of transverse rods and said support block being disjointably mounted at opposite parts thereof on said rods. 